Chapter 3 Flashback

Anita danced round and round her tiny apartment, her heart bubbling with joy at the success of the first step of her plans. True, she hadn't gotten a publishing deal yet but she knew that with the way the day had ended with Rio, she was on her way to getting one pretty soon. The other company has also rejected her work but she didn't mind one tiny bit, knowing that she already had the big fish in her net.

"Anita Dowell. USA today bestselling author." The smile on her face was huge as she envisioned the reality of her dream. "Oh, I can't wait until then!" She screamed and whirled around the room, whistling the tone from West life album 'I have a dream'.

"And can you tell me why you keep acting like you won the award for the best lawyer of all time?"

Anita turned around in shock as she heard a voice say behind her. When she saw that it was only her roommate, Gracy, she relaxed her nerves.

"Won't you answer me?" Gracy asked again when her roommate resumed her joyful dancing steps.

"Very soon, your best friend is going to be the next best selling author of the USA," Anita finally answered.

Gracy squeaked in joy for her friend, her blonde hair tossing around as she moved. "Your parents finally gave in?!" She shouted in excitement.

"Of course not. I told you I won't tell them until I have my books in paperbacks."

"Then, you've managed to secure a publishing deal?" Gracy asked her friend again.

"Not yet," Anita corrected. When she saw her friend's expression fall, she added, "But I will very soon. Don't doubt that."

Gracy stopped wadding around like a fool and sat down on the only two-sitter in the room.

"How the fuck are you going to secure one? The way you keep dancing around, one would even think that you signed the contracts already." She hissed at the redhead.

"Just watch, Gracy. Just you watch," Anita said. She still didn't stop her jubilation.

Just as she suggested, her roomie kept watching her with amusement, wondering what had suddenly gotten into her.

***********

Two years old Riley sat on a chair, staring intently at the cake in front of her like she expected it to grow two or more horns.

"Baby, let's just wish you a happy birthday and let you cut the cake, okay?" Her grandmother, Stacie suggested, wrapping her arms around the little girl.

The girl shook her head violently, "No. We have to wait for daddy." She insisted, just as she has kept doing since she woke up that morning excited it was her birthday. She had gone to look for her father and had returned disappointed when she saw the man's empty room.

"Daddy might be working right now." Grandma tried to persuade her again.

"Daddy won't miss my birthday." The girl insisted. She looked up at that moment and saw her father walking into the room. "Daddy!" She screamed in joy.

"Rio, you're here. Your daughter has been–"

"–Stay away from me!" Rio barked at the little girl who was now hugging him. "Now!!"

The little girl unwrapped her arms from the scary man instantly and moved away at a very long distance. Tears welled up her eyes but her father didn't act like he even saw the emotional tumor he had just sunk his daughter to.

"What's happening here? What's with all the cake and stupid candles?" He asked his mother.

The old woman glared at him, "There is a cake and stupid candles in the house because it's your daughter's birthday." She reminded him.

"Oh. I forgot it was the same day as Sarah's death anniversary." He said nonchalantly.

"Rio! How could you forget your daughter's birthday?" His mother spat at him. "Anyway, she's been waiting for you to return so that she can cut the cake." She informed him.

"I'm too tired for such a thing, mum." With that, he disappeared into his room.

Stacie turned a sorrowful look at her granddaughter who was wailing silently, "Daddy is just tired is all. Let's cut the cake together and I'll take some to him so he can cheer up. What do you say?"

"Okay, granny," Riley answered amidst tears.

"Now wipe your eyes clean, love."

The two of them sang the birthday song and they both cut the cake. Once Stacie made sure that her granddaughter was no longer sad, she took a piece of the cake and went to meet her son. She knew that she was going to meet a thick wall when she approached her son but that was exactly what she wanted.

She was tired of the way he acted ever since the death of his wife. She knew that he was doing it out of guilt over the death of his wife but enough was enough. She had to make him see reasons to forget the past and move on with his life.

In preparation for that, she had arranged a few blind dates for him to join the dating class once again. The only problem she had to counter was making him see the reason for going out with the girls. But stubborn as her only son was, she was sure that she would have to try two hundred times over.

"Rio? Can I come in?" She asked him, knocking on his door softly.

Rio grunted at the voice of his mother that he heard. He knew that even if he declined the request, his mother would simply push her way in.

TV

"Do I have any other choice?" She bellowed at her.

Stacie pushed the door open, "No, you don't." She laughed as she got into the room. "Here. I brought you cake." She dropped the cake beside him on the floor.

"I don't want it."

"Stop it, Rio. It is enough already." She reprimanded.

"Stop what?" He feigned ignorance.

She decided to take the bill by the horn, "When are you bringing home another woman for me?" When she saw his somewhat surprised expression, she frowned. "Don't tell me you don't intend to marry again."

Rio took three deep calming breaths before he responded, "Glad you know it."

"Now look here young man. I will not tolerate anything like that from you."

"Mum, don't start."

"I'm fed up with you and your characters." She complained to him. "Look at how you even ignore your own daughter."

"Only because she reminds me of Sarah a lot. I don't want any reminder of who she was and that is exactly what that girl does."

"Will you even listen to yourself? Will you? Stop being so pathetic, will you?" His mother screamed a little loudly at him.

"I'm tired today, mum." He tried to discourage his mum.

"I know you are. Which is why I've set you up for a date tomorrow itself. That should refreshen you." The older woman said.

"What?!" Rio screamed but his mother didn't bother to answer him. The woman got up and went out the door before he could recollect himself. "Mum! You dare not!!" But he was only talking to an empty doorway.

**************

"Nice job today, everybody." The music director commended everyone in the room. "Especially you, Mimie."

Mimie beamed at the appraisal. After all, she thrived at the compliments she received from people after she had finished performing. She hated herself whenever someone else thrived or got the better praise than her at any events.

Ever since Rio had complimented her for being the best at what she did back then at the concert where she had berm singing along with her musical idol, Rihanna, she had decided that she was going to marry him since he could recognize a raw talent when he saw one.

The two of them had kept in touch after that. While she had been summoning her courage to come clean of her feelings for him, his wedding had been printed on every newspaper she knew of.

To say she had been devastated would be an understatement for her feelings back then.

"Mimie!"

A scream brought her back to the present and she reprimanded herself silently for losing her focus.

"Why did you scream my name?" She asked the drummer boy who called her.

"I signed you up for a blind date–"

"–You did what?!" She screeched.

"Let me finish,will you?" The 17 year old guy reprimanded him like she was a baby. "Anyway, you got merged into a handsome dude." He looked at the screen of his phone. "His name is Rio." He finished.

The moment she heard the name, her deja vu kicked up like the name could only belong to one man. Her man. Now, she was intrigued and ready to see if she was right about her assumption.

"When is the date?"

"You're interested?" The guy asked, clearly surprised.

"Just answer me."

"Tomorrow."

Tomorrow? She thought with a smile. She might be wrong about who she thought it was but her mind kept telling her that she was right and she was ready to take the risk.

If he really was the one, she would know that even nature was trying to pitch her together with the billionaire publisher.